U.S. patent application number 17/190264 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-14 for vehicle body structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Seung Woo HAN, Chang Sup Hwang, Yu Jeong Kim, Dae Myoung Park, Kyung Hoon Son.
Application Number | 20220111902 17/190264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005489246 |
Filed Date | 2022-04-14 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220111902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAN; Seung Woo ; et
al. |
April 14, 2022 |
VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE
Abstract
A vehicle body structure for safely protecting a high-voltage,
the vehicle body structure including: a battery mounted on bottom
portions of a center floor and a rear floor; and a protective
structure having a bottom portion on which a peripheral portion of
the battery is mounted and including panels fitted to each other
into a shape covering a peripheral portion of the center floor.
Inventors: |
HAN; Seung Woo;
(Hwaseong-si, KR) ; Hwang; Chang Sup;
(Seongnam-si, KR) ; Kim; Yu Jeong; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; Son; Kyung Hoon; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Park;
Dae Myoung; (Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION |
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Seoul
KR
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
1000005489246 |
Appl. No.: |
17/190264 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 27/00 20130101;
B62D 21/155 20130101; B62D 25/2027 20130101; B60Y 2306/01 20130101;
B62D 25/2018 20130101; B60K 1/04 20130101; B62D 25/2036 20130101;
B60K 2001/0438 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62D 21/15 20060101
B62D021/15; B60K 1/04 20060101 B60K001/04; B62D 25/20 20060101
B62D025/20; B62D 27/00 20060101 B62D027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 13, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0132074 |
Claims
1. A vehicle body structure comprising: a battery mounted on bottom
portions of a center floor and a rear floor; and a protective
structure having a bottom portion on which a peripheral portion of
the battery is mounted, and comprising panels fitted to each other
into a shape covering a peripheral portion of the center floor.
2. The vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the protective
structure further comprises: a front complex coupled to, while
covering, a front end of the center floor and portions of a first
and a second side surfaces of the center floor; a rear complex
coupled to, while covering, a rear end of the center floor and
remaining portions of the first and the second side surfaces of the
center floor; and side complexes located on a first and a second
sides of the center floor and coupled to an inner portion of the
rear complex.
3. The vehicle body structure of claim 2, wherein the front complex
comprises: a center floor cover panel configured in a shape
covering a power relay of the battery; side-seal front panels
coupled to portions of front ends of the first and the second side
surfaces of the center floor in a longitudinal direction; and
center floor cross members coupled between the cover panel and the
side-seal front panels in a transverse direction.
4. The vehicle body structure of claim 3, wherein the center floor
cover panel has a first side portion and a second side portion that
are coupled to the center floor cross members and a central portion
thereof that protrudes upward while covering the power relay.
5. The vehicle body structure of claim 3, wherein a first end of
each center floor cross member and a corresponding side surface of
the center floor cover panel are overlapped and joined to each
other in a top-bottom direction, and a second end of the each
center floor cross member is supported and joined to a side surface
of a corresponding side-seal front panel.
6. The vehicle body structure of claim 2, wherein the rear complex
comprises: side-seal rear panels coupled to portions of rear ends
of the first and the second side surfaces of the center floor and
portions of a first a second side surfaces of a rear floor in a
longitudinal direction; a rear floor extension coupled to joining
portions of the center floor and the rear floor in a transverse
direction, wherein both ends of the rear floor extension are fixed
to the side-seal rear panels; and a rear floor cross member coupled
to the rear floor extension and configured in a shape covering the
rear floor extension, wherein both ends of the rear floor cross
member are fixed to the side-seal rear panels.
7. The vehicle body structure of claim 6, wherein: the rear floor
extension comprises extension supports extending from the both ends
of the rear floor extension and supported on top surfaces of the
side-seal rear panels, the rear floor cross member comprises cross
member supports extending from the both ends of the rear floor
cross member and supported on the top surfaces of the side-seal
rear panels, and the extension supports and the cross member
supports are joined to the top surfaces of the side-seal rear
panels while overlapping each other.
8. The vehicle body structure of claim 6, wherein the battery
comprises transverse members coupled in the transverse direction
between a first and a second side surfaces of the battery, wherein
the transverse members, the rear floor extension, and the rear
floor cross member overlap each other in a top-bottom
direction.
9. The vehicle body structure of claim 2, wherein each of the side
complexes comprises: reinforcing panels having a convex-concave
structure, and extending in the longitudinal direction along
side-seal front panels and side-seal rear panels that are coupled
to a first and a second side portions of the center floor, wherein
each of the side complexes is provided by stacking and fixing the
reinforcing panels in a top-bottom direction.
10. The vehicle body structure of claim 9, further comprising:
first fasteners extending through the reinforcing panels, a side
front panel, and a bottom surface of a side rear panel, and second
fasteners extending through a peripheral portion of the battery and
configured to engage with the first fasteners.
11. The vehicle body structure of claim 10, wherein the first
fasteners are joined to an upper reinforcing panel of the stacked
reinforcing panels.
12. The vehicle body structure of claim 9, wherein the side-seal
front panels and the side-seal rear panels coupled to the first
side portion and the second side portion of the center floor have
guide holes, and the battery has guide pins provided on a
peripheral portion thereof, the guide pins configured to be fitted
into the guide holes.
13. The vehicle body structure of claim 2, further comprising: seat
cross members coupled in a transverse direction between the front
end and the rear end of the center floor; and side-seal panels that
are coupled to a first and a second side portions of the center
floor, wherein the seat cross members are connected to the
side-seal members.
14. The vehicle body structure of claim 13, further comprising:
reinforcing members configured in a shape extending toward the
side-seal panels, and connected to the seat cross members and the
side-seal panels.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit
of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0132074, filed on Oct. 13,
2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a vehicle body
structure for safely protecting a high-voltage battery.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The statements in this section merely provide background
information related to the present disclosure and may not
constitute prior art.
[0004] The global electric vehicle market has been rapidly growing
over time and the increment of such growth has also been
accelerated over time, such that the consumption of electric
vehicles has been increased.
[0005] In electric vehicles that have been developed recently, a
high-voltage battery, the size of which is increased to increase
the driving range of an electric vehicle, is located on the
underside of the floor. There have been significant structural
changes compared to early-stage electric vehicles in which a
high-voltage battery is mounted on the underside of the rear floor
for compliance with internal combustion engines.
[0006] In this manner, an electric vehicle is provided with a
high-voltage battery instead of a fuel tank. When the high-voltage
battery is fractured by a collision, a fire may occur.
[0007] In particular, in a vehicle in which the high-voltage
battery having the increased size for increasing the driving range
of an electric vehicle is disposed in the length direction on the
underside of the floor of the vehicle body, the structure may be
vulnerable to a side pole collision.
[0008] The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding
of the background of the present disclosure, and is not intended to
mean that the present disclosure falls within the purview of the
related art that is already known to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present disclosure provides a vehicle body structure for
safely protecting a high-voltage battery.
[0010] According to one form of the present disclosure, a vehicle
body structure includes: a battery mounted on bottom portions of a
center floor and a rear floor; and a protective structure having a
bottom portion on which a peripheral portion of the battery is
mounted, and including panels fitted to each other into a shape
covering a peripheral portion of the center floor, thereby
protecting the battery from external impact.
[0011] The protective structure may include: a front complex
coupled to, while covering, a front end of the center floor and
portions of both side surfaces of the center floor; a rear complex
coupled to, while covering, a rear end of the center floor and
remaining portions of the both side surfaces of the center floor;
and side complexes located on both sides of the center floor and
coupled to an inner portion of the rear complex.
[0012] The front complex may include: a center floor cover panel
having a shape covering a power relay of the battery; side-seal
front panels coupled to portions of front ends of the both side
surfaces of the center floor in a longitudinal direction; and
center floor cross members coupled to and between the cover panel
and the side-seal front panels in a transverse direction.
[0013] The center floor cover panel may be configured such that
both side portions thereof are coupled to the center floor cross
members and a central portion thereof protrudes upward while
covering the power relay.
[0014] A first end of each of the center floor cross members and a
corresponding side surface of the center floor cover panel may be
joined to each other while overlapping each other in a top-bottom
direction. A second end of the each of the center floor cross
members may be supported and joined to a side surface of a
corresponding side-seal front panel of the side-seal front
panels.
[0015] The rear complex may include: side-seal rear panels coupled
to portions of rear ends of the both side surfaces of the center
floor and portions of both side surfaces of the rear floor in a
longitudinal direction; a rear floor extension coupled to joining
portions of the center floor and the rear floor in a transverse
direction, with both ends thereof being fixed to the side-seal rear
panels; and a rear floor cross member coupled to the rear floor
extension and having a shape covering the rear floor extension,
with both ends thereof being fixed to the side-seal rear
panels.
[0016] The rear floor extension may include extension supports
extending from the both ends thereof and supported on top surfaces
of the side-seal rear panels. The rear floor cross member may
include cross member supports extending from both ends thereof and
supported on the top surfaces of the side-seal rear panels. The
extension supports and the cross member supports may be joined to
the top surfaces of the side-seal rear panels while overlapping
each other.
[0017] The battery may include transverse members coupled in the
transverse direction between both side surfaces of the battery. The
transverse members, the rear floor extension, and the rear floor
cross member may be positioned so as to overlap each other in a
top-bottom direction.
[0018] Each of the side complexes may include reinforcing panels
respectively having a convex-concave structure and extending in the
longitudinal direction along side-seal front panels and side-seal
rear panels coupled to both side portions of the center floor. Each
of the side complexes may be provided by stacking and fixing the
reinforcing panels to each other in a top-bottom direction.
[0019] First fasteners may be provided to extend through the
reinforcing panels, a side front panel, and a side rear panel, from
top surfaces of the reinforcing panels to a bottom surface of the
side-seal rear panel. Second fasteners may extend through a
peripheral portion of the battery to engage with the first
fasteners.
[0020] The first fasteners may be joined to an upper reinforcing
panel among the stacked reinforcing panels.
[0021] The side-seal front panels and the side-seal rear panels
coupled to the both side portions of the center floor may have
guide holes. The battery may have guide pins provided on a
peripheral portion thereof. The guide pins may be fitted into the
guide holes.
[0022] The vehicle body structure may further include seat cross
members coupled in a transverse direction between the front end and
the rear end of the center floor. The seat cross members may be
connected to side-seal panels coupled to the both side portions of
the center floor.
[0023] Reinforcing members may be connected to the seat cross
members and the side-seal panels. The reinforcing members may have
a shape extending toward the side-seal panels.
[0024] As described above, in a side collision of a vehicle, the
present disclosure may distribute a collision load, applied to a
side surface of the protective structure, in a plurality of
directions, thereby reducing the collision load applied to the
battery. Accordingly, the present disclosure may inhibit the
battery from being fractured or damaged, thereby safely protecting
the battery.
[0025] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. It should be understood that the
description and specific examples are intended for purposes of
illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0026] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there
will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of
example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle body
structure according to one form of the present disclosure, with a
battery being mounted on the bottom portion of the vehicle body
structure;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the
battery according to one form of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a protective
structure having a rectangular closed structure according to one
form of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating
components of the protective structure illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the protective structure
illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a welding operation in the
portion "A" in FIG. 5;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a shape viewed from the side
in order to illustrate a welding operation in the portion "B" in
FIG. 5;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a shape in which the rear
floor extension is coupled to an inner portion of the rear floor
cross member;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a welding operation of the
rear floor extension in the portion "C" in FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a welding operation of the
rear floor cross member in the portion "C" in FIG. 5;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the positional relationship
between members coupled to portions of the rear floor in the
transverse direction and transverse members provided in the
battery;
[0038] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a shape in which the side
complexes according to the present disclosure are coupled to inner
portions of the side-seal panels;
[0039] FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a coupling structure of the
side complexes and the battery; and
[0040] FIGS. 14 and 15 are views illustrating an operation in which
a collision load is distributed when a side fall collision occurs
on the vehicle body structure to which the present disclosure is
applied.
[0041] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes
only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure in any way.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and
is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or
uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings,
corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding
parts and features.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle body
structure according to one form of the present disclosure, with a
battery 400 being mounted on the bottom portion of the vehicle body
structure, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a
protective structure 10 having a rectangular closed structure
according to one form of the present disclosure.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the vehicle body structure
includes the battery 400 and the protective structure 10. The
battery 400 is mounted on the bottom portions of a center floor 20
and a rear floor 30. The peripheral portion of the battery 400 is
mounted on the bottom portion of the protective structure 10. The
protective structure 10 includes panels fitted to each other into a
shape covering the peripheral portions of the center floor 20,
thereby protecting the battery 400 from external impact.
[0045] For example, the battery 400 is a high-voltage battery 400
(hereinafter, referred to as the "battery") used in an electric
vehicle. The battery 400 extends in the longitudinal direction to
cover not only the underside of the center floor 20 but also a
portion of the underside of the rear floor 30.
[0046] In addition, the protective structure 10 has a rectangular
structure coupled to the front end of the center floor 20 in the
transverse direction, to the rear end of the center floor 20, i.e.
joining portions of the center floor 20 and the rear floor 30, and
to both side surfaces of the center floor 20.
[0047] That is, due to the panel-to-panel coupling between the
center floor 20 and the rear floor 30, the entirety of the
rectangular protective structure 10 moves together in a side
collision.
[0048] Accordingly, in a side collision of a vehicle, when a
collision load is applied to a side surface of the protective
structure 10, the collision load is distributed in the longitudinal
direction along the panels of the side surface of the protective
structure 10 and the distributed collision load is distributed in
the transverse direction along the panels of the front end and the
rear end of the protective structure 10, so that the collision load
applied to the battery 400 may be reduced. Accordingly, the
protective structure 10 may inhibit the battery 400 from being
fractured or damaged, thereby safely protecting the battery
400.
[0049] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating
components of the protective structure 10 illustrated in FIG.
3.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the protective structure 10
includes a front section 100, a rear complex 200, and side
complexes 300. The front complex 100 is coupled to, while covering,
the front end of the center floor 20 and portions of both side
surfaces of the center floor 20. The rear complex 200 is coupled
to, while covering, the rear end of the center floor 20 and the
remaining portions of the both side surfaces of the center floor
20. The side complexes 300 are located on both sides of the center
floor 20 and coupled to inner portions of the rear complex 200.
(The term "complex" used herein may refer to a structure comprised
of two or more pieces or components connected together.)
[0051] For example, the front complex 100 is an assembly comprised
of a center floor cover panel 110, side-seal front panels 120, and
center floor cross members 130 that are fitted together. The front
complex 100 is U-shaped, covering the front end portion and portion
of the both side surfaces of the center floor 20.
[0052] In addition, the rear complex 200 is an assembly comprised
of side-seal rear panels 210, a rear floor extension 220, and a
rear floor cross member 230 that are fitted together. The rear
complex 200 is H-shaped, covering the rear end portion of the
center floor 20, portions of the both side surfaces of the center
floor 20, and portions of both side surfaces of the rear floor
30.
[0053] In addition, the side complexes 300 are fixed to the inner
portions of the side-seal front panels 120 and the side-seal rear
panels 210 in the longitudinal direction, and serve to reinforce
the strength of side-seals.
[0054] That is, the protective structure 10 according to the
present disclosure is realized to have the rectangular structure by
forming the first, second, and third complexes into modules by
combining components and fitting the modules of the complexes
together. The protective structure 10 may be easily and simply
fixed to the center floor 20 and the rear floor 30. In particular,
the protective structure 10 is assembled into a unitary structure
such that the entirety of the protective structure 10 moves
together when a collision load is input. Consequently, the
protective structure 10 may effectively distribute the collision
load applied to the battery 400, thereby safely protecting the
battery 400.
[0055] For reference, each of the side-seal front panels 120 and
the side-seal rear panels 210 includes a U-shaped inner member and
a U-shaped outer member respectively having an open side surface,
the inner member and the outer member being fitted together to
define an internal space, such that the side complexes 300 are
fixed in the internal spaces. Herein, it should be understood that
only the inner members are illustrated but none of the outer
members are illustrated, for the sake of brevity, in order to
mainly illustrate the fixed state of the side complexes 300.
[0056] The configuration of each of the complexes of the protective
structure 10 will now be described. First, as illustrated in FIGS.
1 to 4, the front complex 100 includes: the center floor cover
panel 110 shaped to cover a power relay 410 of the battery 400; the
side-seal front panels 120 coupled to portions of the front ends of
the both side surfaces of the center floor 20 in the longitudinal
direction; and the center floor cross members 130 coupled between
the cover panel and the side-seal front panels 120 in a transverse
direction.
[0057] For example, the power relay 410 protrudes from the central
portion of the front end of the battery 400. The power relay 410
serves to supply power or stop the supply of power from the
high-voltage battery to components using a high voltage. The center
floor cover panel 110 is coupled to the central portion of the
front end of the center floor 20 such that the center floor cover
panel 110 may cover the power relay 410.
[0058] In addition, a first end of each of the center floor cross
members 130 is fixed to a corresponding one of both side portions
of the center floor cover panel 110, and a second end of each of
the center floor cross members 130 is fixed to a side surface of a
corresponding one of the side-seal front panels 120 coupled to both
side portions of the center floor 20, such that the front complex
100 is U-shaped.
[0059] In addition, the center floor cover panel 110 is configured
such that both side portions thereof are coupled to the center
floor cross members 130 and the central portion thereof protrudes
upward while covering the power relay 410.
[0060] For example, the center floor cover panel 110 is formed by
hot stamping. The center floor cover panel 110 may be formed into a
shape covering the outer surface of the protruding power relay 410.
In addition, the strength of the center floor cover panel 110 may
be improved due to the characteristic of processing such that the
center floor cover panel 110 may firmly support a collision load
transferred through the side-seal front panels 120 and the center
floor cross members 130, thereby safely protecting the power relay
410 within the center floor cover panel 110.
[0061] In addition, the panels of the front complex 100 are fixed
to each other by welding the components.
[0062] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the protective structure
10 illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a welding
operation in the portion "A" in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a view
illustrating a shape viewed from the side in order to illustrate a
welding operation in the portion "B" in FIG. 5.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, a first end of each of the center
floor cross members 130 and the corresponding side surface of the
center floor cover panel 110 are welded to each other while
overlapping each other in the top-bottom direction, and a second
end of the each of the center floor cross members 130 is supported
and welded to the side surface of the corresponding side-seal front
panel 120.
[0064] That is, the front complex 100 may be firmly fixed as a
unitary structure by welding the center floor cover panel 110 and
the center floor cross members 130 and welding the center floor
cross members 130 and the side-seal front panels 120.
[0065] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a shape in which the rear
floor extension 220 is coupled to an inner portion of the rear
floor cross member 230.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 8, the rear complex 200 includes: the
side-seal rear panels 210 coupled to portions of the rear ends of
the both side surfaces of the center floor 20 and portions of both
side surfaces of the rear floor 30 in the longitudinal direction;
the rear floor extension 220 coupled to joining portions of the
center floor 20 and the rear floor 30 in the transverse direction,
with both ends thereof being fixed to the side-seal rear panels
210; and the rear floor cross member 230 coupled to the rear floor
extension 220 and having a shape covering the rear floor extension
220, with both ends thereof being fixed to the side-seal rear
panels 210.
[0067] For example, the rear floor extension 220 is coupled to the
joining portions of the center floor 20 and the rear floor 30, and
the rear floor cross member 230 is coupled to the rear floor
extension 220 and has the shape covering the rear floor extension
220. The rear floor cross member 230 may have a shape inclined
upward from both ends toward the middle portion, in which a portion
of the middle portion is flat.
[0068] In addition, the side-seal rear panels 210 are coupled to
both side portions of the center floor 20 and the rear floor 30.
Both ends of the rear floor cross member 230 are fixed to side
surfaces of the side-seal rear panels 210, respectively.
Accordingly, the rear complex 200 is H-shaped.
[0069] Furthermore, the panels of the rear complex 200 are fixed to
each other by welding the components.
[0070] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a welding operation of the
rear floor extension 220 in the portion "C" in FIG. 5, and FIG. 10
is a view illustrating a welding operation of the rear floor cross
member 230 in the portion "C" in FIG. 5.
[0071] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, extension supports 222 extend
from the both ends of the rear floor extension 220 and are
supported on the top surfaces of the side-seal rear panels 210.
Cross member supports 232 extend from both ends of the rear floor
cross member 230 and are supported on the top surfaces of the
side-seal rear panels 210. The extension supports 222 and the cross
member supports 232, overlapping each other, are welded to the top
surfaces of the side-seal rear panels 210.
[0072] That is, the extension supports 222 extend toward the
side-seal rear panels 210 and are welded to the top surface of the
side-seal rear panels 210. The cross member supports 232 extend
upward toward the side-seal rear panels 210 and are also welded to
both the top surface of the side-seal rear panels 210 and the top
surface of the extension supports 222. Accordingly, the rear
complex 200 may be firmly fixed as a unitary structure.
[0073] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the positional relationship
between members coupled to portions of the rear floor 30 in the
transverse direction and transverse members 420 provided in the
battery 400.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 11, the transverse members 420 of the
battery 400 are coupled in the transverse direction between both
side surfaces of the battery 400. The transverse members 420, the
rear floor extension 220, and the rear floor cross member 230 may
be positioned so as to overlap each other in the top-bottom
direction.
[0075] For example, the transverse members 420 are coupled to each
other in the transverse direction of the battery 400. Rows of the
transverse members 420 are arranged side by side in the
longitudinal direction and are coupled to both side edges of the
battery 400.
[0076] In particular, the located rearmost ones of the transverse
members 420 of the transverse members 420 are located at the same
coordinates (i.e. the same positions in a plan view) as the rear
floor cross member 230 and the rear floor extension 220.
[0077] That is, the rear floor cross member 230 and the rear floor
extension 220 are coupled to the side-seal rear panels 210, the
battery 400 is coupled to the side-seal rear panels 210, and the
transverse members 420 are coupled to the side portions (i.e. the
right and left portions) of the battery 400, such that each of the
rows of the transverse members 420 may act as a large single
transverse member. This configuration may reinforce transverse
strength of the battery 400, thereby effectively protecting the
battery 400 in a side collision.
[0078] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a shape in which the side
complexes 300 according to the present disclosure are coupled to
inner portions of the side-seal panels.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 12, each of the side complexes 300
includes reinforcing panels 310 respectively having a
convex-concave structure and extending in the longitudinal
direction along the side-seal front panels 120 and the side-seal
rear panels 210 coupled to the both side portions of the center
floor 20. Each of the side complexes 300 is provided by stacking
and fixing the reinforcing panels 310 to each other in the
top-bottom direction.
[0080] For example, an upper reinforcing panel 310a may be fixed to
and stacked on top of a lower reinforcing panel 310b, thereby
forming a double-layer structure. The upper reinforcing panel 310a
and the lower reinforcing panel 310b may be stacked to each other,
with the concave portions of the lower reinforcing panel 310b being
in surface contact with the convex portions of the lower
reinforcing panel 310b. The portions of the upper reinforcing panel
310a and the portions of the lower reinforcing panel 310b in
surface contact are welded to each other.
[0081] In addition, the distances between the concaves and convexes
of the upper reinforcing panel 310a may be the same as the
distances between the concaves and convexes of the lower
reinforcing panel 310b, but the distances between the concaves and
convexes of the upper reinforcing panel 310a may be smaller than
the distances between the concaves and convexes of the lower
reinforcing panel 310b.
[0082] FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a coupling structure of the
side complexes 300 and the battery 400. First fasteners 320 extend
through the reinforcing panels 310, the side-seal front panel, and
the bottom surface of the side-seal rear panel. Second fasteners
330 extend through the peripheral portion of the battery 400 to
engage with the first fasteners 320.
[0083] For example, the first fasteners 320 are cylindrical
nut-shaped structures made of a steel material, with the bottom
ends thereof extend through the lower reinforcing panel 310b, the
side front panel, and the bottom surface of the side rear panel,
the top ends thereof extending through the upper reinforcing panel
310a.
[0084] In addition, the second fasteners 330 may be bolts that can
be fastened to the nut-shaped structures. The second fasteners 330
may extend through the peripheral portion of the battery 400 and
engage with the internal portions of the first fasteners 320 in a
bolt-fastening manner.
[0085] For reference, the second fasteners 330 may be provided in
the central portion of the battery 400 so as to be coupled to the
center floor 20, thereby more firmly coupling the battery 400 to
the vehicle body structure.
[0086] In addition, the first fasteners 320 are welded to the upper
reinforcing panel 310a among the stacked reinforcing panels
310.
[0087] As described above, the distances between the concaves and
convexes of the upper reinforcing panel 310a may be smaller than
the distances between the concaves and convexes of the lower
reinforcing panel 310b. Thus, the first fasteners 320 extend
through the upper reinforcing panel 310a such that the top ends
thereof are located in the concaves of the upper reinforcing panel
310a. CO.sub.2 welding is performed on the peripheral portions of
the portions of the first fasteners 320, protruding from the
reinforcing panel 310a, thereby welding the first fasteners 320 to
the reinforcing panels 310.
[0088] Accordingly, the movement of the first fasteners 320 is
strongly restrained, thereby improving the fastening strength of
mounting portions of the battery 400.
[0089] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 13, guide holes h are
formed in the side-seal front panels 120 and the side-seal rear
panels 210 coupled to both side portions of the center floor 20,
and guide pins p are provided on the peripheral portions of the
battery 400. The guide pins p are fitted into the guide holes
h.
[0090] That is, fitting the guide pins p provided on the battery
400 into the guide holes h enables the battery 400 to be guided to
and arranged in a predetermined fastening position before the
battery 400 is mounted. Consequently, an operation of mounting the
battery 400 may be simplified.
[0091] FIGS. 14 and 15 are views illustrating an operation in which
a collision load is distributed when a side fall collision occurs
on the vehicle body structure to which the present disclosure is
applied.
[0092] Referring to FIG. 14, seat cross members 500 to be seated
and supported on a seat are coupled in the transverse direction
between the front end and the rear end of the center floor 20. The
seat cross members 500 are connected to the side-seal panels
coupled to the both side portions of the center floor 20.
[0093] In addition, reinforcing members 510 are connected to the
seat cross members 500 and the side-seal panels. The reinforcing
members 510 may have a shape extending toward the side-seal
panels.
[0094] That is, in a side collision of a vehicle, a collision load
may be distributed in the longitudinal direction along the
side-seal panels and the side complexes 300 within the side-seal
panels.
[0095] The collision load, distributed as described above, is
distributed in the transverse direction through the center floor
cross members 130 coupled to the front ends of the side-seal panels
and the rear floor cross member 230 and the rear floor extension
220 coupled to the rear ends of the side-seal panels while being
distributed in the transverse direction through the reinforcing
members 510 and the seat cross members 500.
[0096] Accordingly, a collision load applied to the side surface of
the vehicle may be distributed to a plurality of portions so as to
reduce the burden of the load applied to the B pillar and reduce
the burden of the load applied to the battery 400. Accordingly, the
present disclosure may inhibit the battery 400 from being fractured
or damaged, thereby safely protecting the battery 400.
[0097] Although the specific forms of the present disclosure have
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the disclosure as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
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